Rob Reiner and David Lynch posthumously appear in new Mel Brooks documentary
The late directors Rob Reiner and David Lynch are set to posthumously appear in a new Mel Brooks documentary, titled Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
The documentary will premiere in two parts; the first was released on January 22nd, and the second will air on January 23rd. The project was co-directed by Michael Bonfiglio and Judd Apatow.
Interviews in the documentary include Brooks himself, reflecting on his varied career, his children, such as Max Brooks, and various industry titans, including Jay Kelly actor Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, and Dave Chappelle.
Additionally, late industry legends Rob Reiner and David Lynch will appear in the documentary posthumously, in on-camera interviews.
Lynch passed away on January 16th, 2025, from cardiac arrest, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dehydration listed as primary causes. Explaining how the team managed to land the Lynch interview, Bonfiglio shared with the New York Post, “David Lynch had stopped doing interviews because of his health.”
He added, “We interviewed him in October, less than three months before he passed.” He also explained that they began making the documentary in early 2024.
Brooks and Lynch became close after Brooks executive-produced Lynch’s 1980 film, The Elephant Man. According to Bonfiglio, Lynch “made an exception to his ‘no more interviews’ rule for us, because he loved Mel so much. And so, that was a really special day.”
Reiner’s death happened more recently, as the Spinal Tap filmmaker and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, were found dead at their home in Brentwood, Los Angeles, in December. Their son Nick Reiner is set to stand trial for their murder.
Bonfiglio clarified that “Rob died after we had finished the film,” and he completed his video interview in October 2024. The team left his comments exactly as they were: “We felt that even in light of what had happened, Rob’s presence in the film and the things that he said and talked about took on a new meaning, and sort of tribute to him.”
Watch the official documentary trailer below.
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